Take-off or bail out? The airport even Ryanair thinks is a tough sell

From afar Doncaster Sheffield Airport appears clear for take-off. The grass verges are well trimmed, the modern, glass-fronted terminal glimmers in the muted winter sun. But there are no holidaymakers, no families jetting off for a week in the sun, no rattle of suitcase wheels and no roar of jet engines. Opened in April 2005, the airport once served a host of destinations, including Berlin, Dubrovnik, Paris, Alicante and Mallorca. Come November 2022 all flights were grounded when owners Peel Group said it was no longer financially viable and mothballed the site. Today, the 800-acre site, a former RAF base, lies empty except for a small maintenance crew and security presence. Since closing, City of Doncaster Council and the South Yorkshire Mayor have worked to reopen the airport and, earlier this week, their efforts were given the backing of Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Speaking on Wednesday, Reeves said she would support the work to "recreate South Yorkshire Airport City as a thriving regional airport".<br/>